Prædikeren 11
1 Kast dit Brød på Vandet, Thi du får det igen, går end lang Tid hen.
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
2 Del dit Gods i syv otte Dele, thi du ved ej, hvad ondt der kanske på Jorden.
Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3 Er Skyerne fulde af Regn, så gyder de den ud over Jorden; og falder et Træ mod Syd eller Nord; så bliver det liggende der, hvor det falder.
If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be.
4 Man får aldrig sået, når man kigger efter Vinden, og aldrig høstet, når man ser efter Skyerne.
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
5 Som du ikke kender Vindens Vej eller Fostret i Moders Liv, så kender du ej heller Guds Virke, han, som virker alt.
As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.
6 Så din Sæd ved Gry og lad Hånden ej hvile ved Kvæld; thi du ved ej, om dette eller hint vil lykkes, eller begge Dele er lige gode.
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
7 Lyset er lifligt, at skue Solen er godt for Øjnene;
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.
8 ja, lever et Menneske mange År, skal han glæde sig over dem alle og komme Mørkets Dage i Hu, thi af dem er der mange i Vente; alt, hvad der kommer, er Tomhed.
Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
9 Glæd dig, Yngling, i din Ungdom, vær vel til Mode i Livets Vår; gå, hvor dit Hjerte lyster, og nyd, hvad dit Øje skuer; men vid, at for alle disse Ting skal du kræves til Regnskab af Gud.
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
10 Slå Mismod ud af dit Sind, hold Sygdom fjernt fra din Krop; thi Ungdom og Livsgry er Tomhed!
Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for youth and the prime of life are vanity.
